Prevalence and incidence of dry eye in aged population

Abstract

Objective To determine the prevalence and incidence of dry eye and to investigate the epidemiological characteristics as well as associated risk factors in aged population.Methods Relative examination of dry eye was conducted among old aged cases who received health examination in general hospital from March 1999 to April 2005,the diagnosis of dry eye was confirmed by Questionnaire survey,tear break-up time(BUT),Schirmer test Ⅰ(ST I),cornea and conjunctiva fluorescein staining,tear river,systemic history study.The prevalence and incidence of dry eye were calculated by direct approach.The risk factors for incidence of dry eye during survey were analyzed with multiple logistic regressions.Results A total of 3568 individuals were screened;the average follow-up duration was 4.6 years.The prevalence of dry eye was 30.00% or so and the incidence of dry eye was 13.95%.Patients with dry eyes complained most frequently of a scratchy,eye fatigue and sandy sensation.Logistic regression test showed that the incidence of dry eye was notably related to age and diabetes,but no significantly relation to BMI,hypertension,cardiovascular disease,connective tissue disease or smoking.Conclusions The prevalence and incidence of dry eye were increased with age,diabetes was the risk factor,while BMI,hypertension,cardiovascular disease,connective tissue disease or smoking had no significant correlation with dry eye. Key words: Dry eye; Prevalence; Incidence